I just went through this process myself a few weeks ago and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After trying all the suggestions here, I found my 2023 records by going to my.ny.gov, then Unemployment Services, and clicking on "Claimant Services" rather than the main payment history section. From there, I selected "View/Print Payment History" and there was a dropdown to select the tax year - make sure you select "2023 Tax Year" not just "2023" as they're listed differently. The report it generates includes everything broken down by week with gross amounts, deductions, and net payments, plus a summary page at the end that totals everything up perfectly for tax purposes. If you're still having issues, try using Internet Explorer or Edge - I know it sounds old-school but the NYS system seems to work more reliably with Microsoft browsers for some reason. The whole process took about 10 minutes once I found the right section, and the PDF downloaded cleanly with all the formatting intact.

I went through this same process recently and wanted to add one more tip that helped me. If you're still having trouble finding your 2023 records after trying all these great suggestions, check if you need to update your browser or disable pop-up blockers. The NYS system sometimes blocks the PDF downloads if your browser settings are too restrictive. Also, I noticed that the system occasionally shows different menu options depending on whether you access it through my.ny.gov directly or through the Department of Labor website first - try both entry points if one isn't working. Once I got to the right section, I was able to download a complete year-end summary that had everything my tax preparer needed, including weekly breakdowns and total withholdings. The key is being patient with the system and trying different browsers/times of day if you run into issues.

yeah you can work just dont go over the limit or they take it away dollar for dollar which sucks

Just want to add that when you do report your Instacart earnings, make sure you're tracking your expenses too (gas, car maintenance, etc.) for tax purposes. The income you report to NYS DOL should be your gross earnings before expenses, but you'll want those expense records when tax time comes around since you'll likely be filing as a 1099 contractor. Also, keep detailed records of what you earned each week - screenshots of your Instacart earnings, dates, amounts. This will make your weekly certifications much easier and protect you if there are ever any questions later.

Yeah they definitely don't automatically withhold. I forgot to elect it my first few weeks and had to call to change it. The tax withholding election stays in place for all your future weekly claims once you set it up, so you don't have to keep selecting it every week.

Just to add some perspective as someone who's been through this - I'd strongly recommend electing the tax withholding right from the start. I made the mistake of not doing it initially thinking I'd handle it myself, and it was a nightmare trying to calculate and make quarterly payments while already stressed about being unemployed. The 10% federal and ~3.5% NY state withholding won't cover everything if you have other income, but it's a good safety net and way less stressful than owing a lump sum at tax time.

Different claims process at different speeds depending on your employment history and reason for separation. If you were laid off from a straightforward job, approval is usually quick. If you quit, were fired, or had multiple employers, it takes longer for them to verify everything. The important thing is to keep filing your weekly claims and respond promptly to any requests for additional information.

I went through this same situation a few months ago and the waiting is definitely nerve-wracking! One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - once you're approved, payments come faster that way than waiting for debit cards or checks. Also, make sure you're checking both your my.ny.gov messages AND your physical mail regularly. Sometimes the approval letter shows up in one place before the other. In my case, I saw the approval in my online account a day before the letter arrived. Hang in there - 10 days is still within the normal timeframe, especially if you were laid off for straightforward reasons.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just started my NY unemployment claim this month and my payment was released on January 2nd but still hasn't hit my account. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - I had no idea about the 1-2 business day ACH processing window or that weekends don't count as business days. I was panicking thinking something was wrong with my claim! The tip about certifying on Sunday mornings is genius - I've been doing mine on random weekdays but will definitely switch. Also setting up those bank notifications that everyone mentioned so I can stop obsessively checking my balance every hour. This community is amazing for explaining all the real-world timing that the official NYSDOL site completely glosses over. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - makes this whole process feel so much less overwhelming for us newcomers!

This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding NY unemployment payment timing! I just started my claim a few weeks ago and was completely confused about why my "released" payment wasn't showing up immediately. Reading everyone's experiences here has taught me more than the official NYSDOL website ever did. The key insights I'm taking away: 1) Release date is just when NYSDOL finishes processing, not when you actually get paid, 2) ACH transfers take 1-2 business days after release, 3) Weekends don't count as business days, and 4) Certify on Sunday mornings to avoid weekend delays. I'm also setting up those bank notifications everyone mentioned so I can stop the constant balance checking anxiety. It's amazing how much stress comes from simply not understanding the system's timing. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this community knowledge is invaluable for newcomers like me who are trying to navigate this process!